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Latos earns NL POW honors with two complete games

Latos earns NL POW honors with two complete games

Reds starter Mat Latos talks about receiving National League Player of the Week honors

By Paul Casella
/
MLB.com |

Reds right-hander Mat Latos capped off a nearly perfect week by garnering his first career National League Player of the Week honors, the league announced Monday.

Latos went 2-0 last week, tossing a pair of complete games while conceding just two combined runs for a 1.00 ERA. It marked the first time since 2006 that a Reds pitcher hurled back-to-back complete games, when Aaron Harang accomplished the feat on Sept. 24 and Sept. 29.

The starter also notched a career-high 13 strikeouts in his win last Monday against the Brewers. He allowed just four hits in that outing, before limiting the Giants to just two base knocks in his second complete-game victory Saturday. His 20 strikeouts for the week led the NL.

Latos had just one career complete game prior to throwing two last week. The stellar performances improved Latos' record on the season to 7-2, and lowered his ERA nearly a full run, dropping it from 5.20 to 4.42.

Paul Casella is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @paul_casella. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.